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Care homes chosen for nurse-led teaching project

Five nursing homes will train staff and students and help encourage nurses to work in the sector

Five care and nursing homes are to become learning centres for staff and students in a nurse-led pilot project.

The Teaching Care Home project will be run by the Foundation of Nursing Studies (FoNS). Its chief executive Theresa Shaw said the five homes in the pilot will promote learning through practice, and nursing students will benefit from mentorship, clinical supervision and reflective practice.

‘Care homes are often seen as second class to the NHS,’ said Ms Shaw. 'But they look after people with very complex health needs and can be fantastic examples of nurse-led units.’

FoNS chair Tony Butterworth added: ‘We want students to think about a career in nursing home care as an essential part of the landscape, not afterthought, when we have a growing elderly population.’

Care England’s honorary nursing adviser Deborah Sturdy said: ‘At a time when it is hard to recruit and retain nurses, Teaching Care Home is a way in which we can help encourage nurses into the sector by creating confidence about their roles, prominence in the wider nursing community and influence the next generation of the profession.'

She added: 'We went to create a culture in these homes conducive to learning for all. We don't have a formula yet – we are creating that formula.’

Training in the centres will include teaching sessions for students and staff, teaching managers to negotiate complex relationships with external agencies, and finding ways that nurses in care homes can access funding for training.

The care homes taking part are:

  • Millbrook Lodge, run by the Orders of St John Care Trust, in Gloucestershire
  • Rose Court, run by HC-One, in Greater Manchester
  • Berwick Grange Dementia Care Home, run by MHA, in Harrogate
  • Lady Sarah Cohen House, run by Jewish Care, in north London
  • Chester Court, run by Barchester, in Northumberland

The Teaching Care Home initiative is funded by the Department of Health and supported by FoNS, the International Longevity Centre (UK), Manchester Metropolitan University and Care England, which represents independent care providers.


Further reading

Deborah Sturdy talks about how the pilot scheme will put care home nursing on the map

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